A charity aiming to create a culture of kindness in schools has been set up to work with schools across Wiltshire.
Kindwaves launched on 14th March and will work with schools to explore how kindness and positive relationships can be strengthened in the school environment.
The charity was founded by Masha and David following the death of their daughter Heli, who died by suicide.
“Our story is a very sad one,” said Masha. “It is necessary that we need to work with a lot more kindness. We are founders lost our daughter to suicide; this is a tough background.
“Through working with our own bereavement, we started being approached by parents and educators – we just said we want more kindness, more kindness towards ourselves and individuals.
“Voices that are external become internalised for children and it matters what you say to a child and how you say it. We feel strongly that your inner voice should be a kind voice rather than that of criticism or unkind interaction.”
The charity consists of a team of professionals including former teachers, headteachers, psychotherapists and counsellors who aim to work directly with schools using a relational approach.
Founders Masha and David said, “Kindwaves is all about positive relations. We are asking, how can we deepen a culture of kindness together?”
Masha said the charity hopes to work collaboratively with school communities rather than deliver fixed programmes.
“Our focus will be really learning about how schools want to develop their own cultures with kindness. We want to involve the whole team including the school, parents and children.
“We are not coming in with big programmes; it is about gentle research together.”
For more information, visit kindwaves.org.uk.
